Thursday, 11 March 2010

• Christians and Taxes: Rendering to Uncle Sam

  It's tax season again here in the United States and that means a lot of grumbling from everyone who worked  -- over the table -- last year. For some of us it means wrestling with morality. Christians are told to be peacemakers so that they may be children of God (Matthew 5:9). Many believers feel they honor the king/president (1Peter 2:17), demolish strongholds, and overcome the powers and structures of this world (Ephesians 6:12) by refusing to pay taxes that fund a current military endeavor (such as the war on Iraq/terrorism/drugs).  

  For some Christians the situation poses no question. Jesus tells some tricky religious leaders to "give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" when they ask if it is good to pay the taxes implemented by Caesar(Matthew 22:15-22). Jesus doesn't exactly say "pay your taxes" but gives a strange answer (though it's easy to side with the idea that Jesus is saying "Just give him his money") that has been interpretted in many ways. People also point tio Romans 13:6-7 which states "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."

  It's very clear by scripture that Christians serve God and also are to obey the laws of their land and submit to the authorities (Romans 13:1). At the same time, Christians can not obey the laws of their land and the authorities if they are asked by such athorities to do things that compromise their obedience and loyalty to Christ Jesus. This is the dilemma for many who question whether it is right or wrong to pay taxes.

  If we are to actively make peace, obey God, and call the nation we occupy to justice (Micah 6:8) by being a peculiar people who follow God's laws in whatever land he places us (1Peter 2:11) then can we pay taxes that fund the killing of innocent lives and promote the lie of redemptive violence or must we participate in civil disobedience (which may very well be the most patriotic thing one can do for a country)?

  For more information on the topic of boycotting war tax visit WarTaxByocott.org

  What do you think? Have you heard of this sort of activity before? Do you pay your full taxes or do you opt out of a chosen amount for the purpose of Christian witness? What do you think Christians ought to do? Does living in a nation like the United States change the way Christians react to taxes (as opposed to living in Rome under Caesar)?

   

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